Consider potential risks prior to travel

This article contains several considerations but is not exhaustive and is not to be construed as legal advice. Executive actions and policy changes can be swift and the university does not have authority in government matters. 

General Consideration 

Strict vetting and enforcement activities 

The following factors could be among those considered by the current administration in determining the validity of your status in the U.S., eligibility for a visa, and admissibility to the U.S. after international travel. 

• Visa revocation 

• Legal infractions, arrests, convictions 

• Social media postings or publications, now or previously, that could be interpreted as espousing hateful ideology, threatening national security, or antisemitic 

• Membership in an organization that could be viewed negatively by the U.S. government 

• Participation in protests while in the U.S. 

• Failure to report SEVIS updates in the regulatory timeframe  

• Exceeding the unemployment accrual limits while authorized for post-completion OPT or a STEM extension of OPT 

Confirm your SEVIS information is accurate and up to date— 

• Review your I-20 or DS-2019 and confirm the information is accurate. 

• Access the Address and Contact Information e-form in the General Forms section of the MyISSS portal and confirm your reported U.S. address is accurate.   

• If you are authorized for post-completion OPT or a STEM extension of OPT: 
  • Check your SEVP portal to confirm your information is accurate.
  • Confirm you have not exceeded the unemployment accrual limit. 
    • Post-completion OPT: 90 days 
    • STEM OPT extension: 150 days cumulative during the post-completion OPT and STEM extension authorization periods 
    • If you have not entered employer information in the SEVP portal and it is beyond the unemployment limit, SEVP will terminate your SEVIS record. 
  • If you need to report employment to ISSS, complete the Post-Completion or STEM OPT Employment Info Update e-form (Training & Employment-Related Forms in MyISSS portal). 
    • If you are unable to enter your employment in the SEVP portal, ISSS can update it based on the submission of this e-form. 
    • If you require a new I-20 with your employer information, request one on the e-form. 

Travel within the U.S. 

Be prepared— 

• While in the U.S., nonimmigrants and lawful permanent residents are required to carry their immigration documents at all times. at all times. 
  • Recommended documentation includes: I-94 or Permanent Resident Card; current I-20 or DS-2019; and Employment Authorization Document (EAD card), if applicable. 
• To board domestic flights, travelers must have a REAL ID-compliant form of identification. 
  • Colorado does not currently issue REAL ID-compliant driver licenses and IDs to individuals who are temporarily lawfully present in the state. 
  • Individuals who do not have a REAL-ID compliant ID must use an alternative form of identification, such as a passport for domestic travel. 
  • ISSS REAL ID FAQ 

Other resources— 

• Know Your Rights 

• Immigrants’ Rights 

Travel Outside the U.S. 

U.S. immigration policy remains unpredictable and subject to rapid change. Previous reentry experiences do not dictate what will occur during future reentries. It is always at the discretion of the port of entry Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer to admit or not admit someone to the U.S. and the university cannot guarantee your re-entry to the U.S. Prior to travel, consider the risks and possible impacts for yourself and your family. 

Nationwide preliminary relief blocking the Fixed Admission Final Rule from taking effect  

The postponement granted on September 14, 2026, temporarily blocks the implementation of the fixed admission rule as the court case continues.  

If the postponement is lifted, it could result in the immediate implementation of the fixed admission rule.  

• International travel after the rule takes effect would move an individual from the current Duration of Status(D/S) system to the Fixed Admission system.  
  • If you are outside the U.S. and reenter on or after the rule effective date, you will be issued an I-94 with a specific Admit Until Date (AUD) rather than D/S. 
    • Under the new rule, your AUD would determine how long you can remain in the U.S. even if your I-20 or DS-2019 indicates the actual time required to complete your SEVIS program extends beyond the AUD.  
      • If you require additional time beyond your AUD, you must timely file an Extension of Stay (EOS) with USCIS or seek new admission through international travel and reentry.  
        • Readmission decisions are at the discretion of CBP; reentry to the United States is not guaranteed. Consult ISSS to discuss your situation. 
  • If you are in the U.S., maintaining status, and were admitted for D/S on the rule effective date, transition rules apply. In general, individuals can remain in the U.S. through the end date on their I-20 or DS-2019 or up to 4 years plus the 30-day departure period, whichever is earlier. 
  • FAQs related to the fixed admission final rule: 
    • FAQs for students in F-1 status in the U.S. prior to rule effective date 
    • Fixed period of admission for exchange visitor scholars in J-1 status FAQ 

Confirm passport validity, visa validity and admissibility— 

• Check your passport validity. You must have a valid passport to re-enter the U.S.  

• Check your visa expiration date. You must have a valid visa or qualify for the Automatic Visa Revalidation exception to re-enter the U.S. 
  • Check your visa status on the Department of State website. 
    • Select “Nonimmigrant.” Select the consulate that issued your current visa. Enter the 14 digit “control number” from the upper right corner of your visa (XXXXXXX XXX XXXX). Enter the passport number indicated on your visa. 
  • If you must renew your visa, review the following resources prior to travel. 
    • Under current guidance, the Department of State will conduct expanded screening of all student and exchange visitor visa applicants, including reviewing online presence. Visa applicants will be instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all their social media profiles to “public.” 
      • Expanded visa vetting, social media review, and travel risks: What international students and scholars need to know 
    • U.S. Department of State (DOS) policy change effective Sept. 2, 2025, ended waivers of the visa interview for most visa applicants. 
      • Change in Department of State policy: Visa interviews required 
    • U.S. Department of State (DOS)  reduced the visa validity for several countries’ new nonimmigrant visas to three months and only a single entry. for several countries’ new nonimmigrant visas to three months and only a single entry. 
      • U.S. visa reciprocity changes 
    • On Oct. 10, 2025, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) updated their previous announcement. Applicants should not schedule visa appointments in countries where they are neither citizens nor residents. 
      • Apply for nonimmigrant visa in country of nationality or residence 
• Determine if there are any factors that make you inadmissible to the U.S. including a U.S. entry restriction and assess the risk associated with travel at this time. 
  • Entry restrictions could be imposed for citizens of any country at any time with an immediate effective date.